Minella Fair a likely menace with Storm Dennis set to make Navan ground testing

Ten Up Novice Chase (Grade 2) | 3m | 5yo+ | RTV

Noel Meade launches a strong two-pronged attack on an informative Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan, sending Thyestes Chase third Minella Fair into battle alongside former smart novice hurdler First Approach.

The presence of Storm Dennis should ensure sufficiently testing ground for the former, ridden by Denis O'Regan, while the latter made a bright start to his chasing career when third at this venue last month behind Minella Indo and Captain Cj, who he renews rivalry with here.

Meade said of his runners: "Minella Fair needs really testing ground and hopefully conditions will suit – he looks to have a good chance.

"There didn't seem to be a huge amount of options over a trip for First Approach and we're happy to let him take his chance after a nice first run over fences at the course last time."

Captain Cj (right) and First Approach (behind in third) reoppose on Sunday after locking horns at the track last monthCredit: Alain Barr

Captain Cj has been running admirably in defeat over fences behind the likes of Champagne Classic, Ronald Pump, Carefully Selected and Minella Indo this season and will be aiming to make the breakthrough now.

"He's been unfortunate to bump into some of the best horses in the country one run after another," said trainer Dermot McLoughlin.

"He's in good nick and if he reproduces his good run at the course last time he should have a good chance."

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Speak Easy is still a maiden over fences and was in the process of running a fine race at Punchestown last month when coming to grief at the last behind Carefully Selected.

O'Brien said of the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old: "It's a competitive race, but he was running well when falling at Punchestown and that should put him thereabouts now. The step up in trip should suit."

Speak Easy ran creditably on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse on the back of a long layoffCredit: Patrick McCann

Gordon Elliott has declared two runners, but Milan Native finished second at Gowran on Saturday and is an unlikely runner.

On Elwood, his other representative, Elliott said: "You’d have to be reasonably pleased with the way he ran at Naas and hopefully he can give a good account."

The field is completed by Discordantly, trained by Jessica Harrington, who said: "There aren't too many runners and we thought it could be a nice chance to run him after falling last time at Punchestown."

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